Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,403, Joel Ellis, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Mass.
Ellis, Joel
17,403
Carded
CONTENTS

see letter 11 March 1815 to r. Agt.
74 Bristol
15378.
Massachusetts
Joel Ellis
Bristol in the State of Mass who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain _____ of the Reg't commanded by Col Francis in the Mass line for 16 Mo
Ind
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 th day of June 1833 and sent Hon J L Woodger Present
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $66.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending 2 Sep 16.66
$83.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J H M Blair Clerk, Book R, Vol. 2, Page 21.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Bristol ss. On this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable A. Daylies  Judge of the Court of Probate — sitting at Taunton — in and for said County, Joel Ellis — a resident of Attleborough in said County, aged 72 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Attleborough in the County of Bristol Mass on the 23 rd day of December A. D. 1754, and that there is a record of his birth : that he was in the United States service from the 10 th day of Dec r A. D. 1775, to the 10 th day of Feb y A. D. 1778 as a Private in the Massachusetts State Service : that he was residing at Attleborough aforesaid when he entered the service; that he enlisted and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt Stephen Richardson of Attleborough  Joseph Pidge was Lieut. : that he marched from Attleborough to Roxbury , from there to there from there to there : that he served at Said Roxbury with Samuel Draper and others of the regular troops ; and the above named officers are all that he can recollect regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received no written discharge: that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Attleborough aforesaid
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the first day of July A. D. 1776, to the first day of Nov r A. D. 1776 as a Private in the State Service : that he was residing at Attleborough aforesaid when he entered the service; that he enlisted and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt Isaac Huges of Dorchester in the County of Bristol : that he marched from Attleborough to Wrentham , from there to there  Wellesley from there to there  Dorchester : that he served at Dorchester with William Tiffany and Charles Tiffany  of the regular troops ; and in Col Francis Keyes  Massachusetts  regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received no written discharge.
ALSO : that he was in the United States service from the third day of Nov r A. D. 1776, to the 17 th day of Dec r A. D. 1776 as a Private in the State Militia : that he was residing at Attleborough when he entered the service; that he enlisted and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Capt Isaac Ide of Attleborough aforesaid, the other officers not recollecting : that he marched from Attleborough to Providence , from there to there  Natick from there to there  Wadsworth in Rhode Island State : that he served at Wadsworth with Samuel Dingley and others of the regular troops ; and the above named regular officers were known to him : that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received no written discharge.

4 Also that he served in the State Service one month in the fall of 1777 at Tiverton near Newport Rhode Island in Spencers expedition under Capt. Stephen Richardson the other officers not mentioned. 5 Also that he served one other campaign of the latter part of the same autumn, one month in Tiverton and fall river and elsewhere under Capt. Alexander Father of said Atholman. 6 Also that he served one other campaign for the term of one month at Tiverton and elsewhere in that region under Capt. Gale Richardson for the August of 1778 as near as I can recollect that he served the several terms above mentioned faithfully at the end of each term was honorably discharged without receiving any written discharge. That that he can recollect many of his former acquaintances that were with him but they are nearly all dead the witnesses who have given their depositions testifying to his services are nearly all that were with him that are now living and in this region —
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
Joel Ellis
Sept. 4. 1832
H. Baylies Judge of Probate
We John Ferguson Atleborough
a clergyman, residing in the town of
and Noah Clafin
residing in the same
Town hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joel Ellis who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about seventy two years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid. John Ferguson Noah Clafin
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that John Ferguson, who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the town of Atleborough; and that Noah Clafin who has also signed the same is a resident in the same town and is a credible person; and that the statement is entitled to credit.
H. Baylies, Judge of Probate
Anselm Bassett Register of the Court of Probate for the County of Bristol do hereby certify
the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Joel Ellis for a pension.
testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Anselm Bassett

10.282 Joel Ellis -
N.C.

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the of the Peace in & for the county of Bristol and commonwealth of Massachusetts Joel Ellis, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith That as to the seventh interrogatory prescribed by the Bar department he refers to John Ferguson & Isiah Claphin whose names are attached to the Certificate in the declaration. In answer to the seventh he says there is a record of his birth in the Records of the Town of Milford as per Certificate annexed to his declaration. Joel Ellis
Bristol ss May 16 th 1833
Personally appeared the above named Joel Ellis and subscribed and swore to the above before me
Isiah Claphin Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Bristol ss. I Andrew Barrett Register of the Court of Probate in the said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Isiah Claphin Esq. whose signature is affixed to the above certificate is a Justice of the Peace for said County of Bristol.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this twenty first day of May Eighteen hundred & thirty three — Andrew Barrett

I certify that Joel Ellis was born in the town of Middleborough, December 23 rd A.D. 1759 as it appears by the Records of said Town
Elkanah Briggs Town Clerk

Cannonworth of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss
August 13 th 1832
I Samuel Draper of Middleborough In said County of Bristol of the age of 78 years having been duly sworn to testify and say that Jack Ellis of Middleborough aforesaid entered the service of the revolution with me in the forepart of the winter of 1775-6 and served six weeks we were stationed at Roxbury near Boston in Capt. Stephen Richardson's company of Artillery. And also I further testify that the said Jack Ellis served with me in another campaign at Trenton near the Port Road and in Spencers Expedition he served at Stratford as near as I can recollect one month under Capt. Stephen Richardson this was in the Autumn of 1777. In Spencers Expedition And also I further testify that the said Jack Ellis served with me another campaign at and near Howlands Ferry near Newport under Capt. Alexander Lofgren In the fall of 1777, if my recollection serves me but I cannot be positive as to the precise date. And also I further testify that the said Jack Ellis served with me at another campaign in Trenton and elsewhere In that vicinity for the term of one month In Capt. Caleb Richardson's company the date I cannot be positive about but I think it was In August A.D. 1778.
Samuel Draper
Cannonworth of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss
August 13 th 1832
Sworn to and subscribed before me Nah. Chaplin justice of Peace
Bristol ss May 16 th 1833
This may certify that the subscribers is well acquainted with the Samuel Draper Samuel Tingey & Ebenezer Tiffany who have subscribed and sworn to the above and following depositions on this sheet and that they are all respectable men and credible witnesses
Nah. Chaplin justice of the Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss — } August 14 th 1832
I Samuel Tingley of Attleborough In the County of Bristol of the age 79 years having been duly sworn do testify and say that I was In the Service of the Revolution at several times and places and in particular I served in a campaign at Warren Rhode Island I believe In Capt Farah Fols campaign at Metapedia I was there as near as I can recollect six weeks and I believe that Joel Ellis of Attleborough was with me the whole time. Saml Tingley
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss — } August 14 th 1832 Sworn to and subscribed before me
Nath Claplin Justice of Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss — } August 14 th 1832
I Ebenezer Tiffany of North Providence in the State of Rhode Island of the age of Seventy years having been duly sworn do testify and say That I was In the Service of the Revolution at Dorchester Heights for about two weeks to supply the place of an older Brother (who is now dead) And I well recollect that Joel Ellis of Attleborough was there on an enlistment for four months he was in the same mess with me I left him there when my Brother returned and supposed he served his term out I am confirmed in that belief by the following circumstance. I went down to Dorchester to bring my Brother home when their time was out, and found that Joel Ellis and my Brother had returned home on a different route — This was in the summer of 1776 — Ebenezer Tiffany
Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Bristol ss — } August 14 th 1832 Sworn to and subscribed before me
Nath Claplin Justice of Peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Attest. I James Sprout, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County of Bristol, do hereby certify that Noah Melcher Esq. when his oath is offered to the within and annexed certificates is a Justice of the peace in the said County of Bristol, and duly qualified to administer oaths.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this third day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.
Jas. Sprout
Deposition in case Ellis

10282
Joel Ellis
Plat 10 AMs
$33.00
1406
May 4 1893
P. 372
a Bapett En Taunton Mass

10.282  BRIEF in the case of Joel Ellis of Attleborough in the State of Mass t (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 72 years —  4. State his service as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     Dec 2 In 1775 — 1 1/2 Private Capt Steph. Richardson. mil a enlisted   1 July 1776 — 4 do Col l Francis — Reg t do   3 Nov 2 do — 1 15 do Capt Jacob Ide — C y do   Fall of 1777 — 1 do Capt S Richardson — State do   Same Year do — 1 do Capt Alex r Foots — do   Aug 2 1778 — 1 do Capt Caleb Richardson — do  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Attleborough  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? by witnesses, & the traditional evidence of others — one a Clergyman — the latter certified to be credible persons —  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
E. Stephens Examining Clerk.

P
17403
INVALID.
am
File No. 17403
Joel Ellis
Pr. Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Lex: — Vol. / , Page 113
[Arrangement of 1870.]

10.282
BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Joel Ellis which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? —

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? — no Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 2 nd & 7 th not answered
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
14. Supplied 17. See Additional affidavit